Double Jeopardy

by Emma Sinclair

  Forcing herself not to think about things like that, she stepped into the shower. Much to her surprise, it wasn’t a sonic shower, it was a real shower. Real clean fresh water. Warmth pounded over her skin.

  It felt absolutely amazing. And she was actually surprised when she realized that tears were joining the water droplets streaming down her face.

  What was going to happen when they got back to the city? She’d probably have to leave the quadrant. She knew that there was an excellent chance that she’d never see them again, but just knowing that they were so close and yet so far away would be hard for her.

  But at least they had each other, she reminded herself, and she’d had a hand in joining them.

  Pulling herself together, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower stall. She grabbed one of the fluffy towels and dried herself. The soft material felt decadent sliding over her skin.

  And then she saw it.

  There was a beautiful silken robe hanging on the back of the door. There was a small electronic screen sitting on the sink. She clicked it and it came to life. A manly scrawl appeared.

  Put on the robe and come talk to us.

  Cal and AJ.

  What did they think she was going to do?

  But then she realized why they’d left a note. Obviously this was going to be where they told her. Thanks for making us not unconscious anymore, but no thanks.

  Maybe they wouldn’t even bother going back to the city. Maybe they’d just dump her at the nearest port. She shivered. She just hoped it wasn’t anywhere too dangerous.

  Wanting to prolong her meeting with the boys as long as possible, she investigated the medicine cabinet. After slathering herself with lotion and drying her hair, she couldn’t find anything else to do.

  She slipped into the robe and left the bathroom. Once again bypassing the kitchen, much to the disappointment of her stomach, she headed into the main room of the boat.

  The lights were low and candles were lit all around the room. A fancy bottle and three glasses sat on the table along with a huge platter of foods she’d never seen before.

  Both Cal and AJ sat on the oversized couch. They were laughing together. Di’s heart warmed. When she realized that both men were wearing nothing more than silk pajama pants--AJ’s were dark green while Cal’s were a deep dark red—the heat in her heart began spreading to other places.

  “Hey baby,” Cal said when he saw her. He wasn’t able to hide the heat in his eyes.

  AJ’s head snapped around, his face spreading into a big grin.

  She had to try really hard to keep from tearing up.

  AJ put his hand out for her. Without thinking, she put her hand in his. He pulled her over to the couch.

  “Come sit with us,” he said, not that he gave her a choice.

  He moved over and settled her in between them.

  Cal meanwhile had busied himself pouring their drinks. When Di sat back he handed each of them a glass.

  “To family,” Cal said holding up his glass.

  AJ laughed a little when he clicked his glass against his brothers.

  “To family,” he agreed.

  Di held her glass up to be clinked, but remained quiet.

  When she took a drink, flavor exploded on her tongue. It was delicious. But as soon as she took the glass from her lips, it was taken away from her.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  AJ pulled her back against him, forcing her to turn. Cal grabbed her feet and settled them on her lap.

  Why did they have to be so damn sweet?

  She couldn’t actually answer AJ’s question because she was afraid that if she were to speak, the tears would start falling.

  And Di didn’t cry.

  Cal started rubbing her feet. It felt absolutely divine.

  “Talk to us,” he said.

  She remained quiet and wouldn’t meet either man’s gaze. She could sense the two men communicating around her.

  “How long do you think it will take us to get back to the city?” she blurted out.

  She played with a string on the robe, still refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.

  “Well, that’s partly what we wanted to talk to you about,” Cal said.

  Di simply continued to play with the string.

  “Why won’t you look at us?” AJ demanded.

  Playing with the string, Di made a decision.

  She wasn’t going to be the victim. She was going to be the one in charge.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize that was part of the job.”

  “Job?” Cal asked.

  “Yeah, you did hire me onto find your brother.”

  She moved her feet off Cal’s lap and broke contact with AJ. She stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Distance was good right now. For the first time since entering the room, she really looked at the brothers.

  Call looked more confused than anything, but AJ was boiling with rage.

  “Right, well, I said you could collect payment at any time,” he said. “What is it that you want?”

  You! She wanted to scream. Both of you!

  She didn’t have a chance to answer though because AJ jumped up.

  “And just out of curiosity, what’s the bonus for fucking both of us?”

  “What?”

  What right did AJ have getting mad? He had a whole new life ahead of him.

  Cal jumped up too, playing peacemaker.

  “Now wait a minute. Both of you just calm down.”

  There were too many emotions running through her to be calm.

  “Calm my ass,” she screamed. “The two of you burst into my life, turning the whole damn thing upside down. You put my life in danger. Several times. Made me fall in love with both of you and now I’m just expected to go back to my life--which by the way doesn’t exist anymore--anyway? Excuse me, I am not going to be calm.”

  Once she stopped railing, she looked at the two men. They stood directly in front of her, shoulder to shoulder, their arms crossed over their bare chests. They wore matching grins.

  “What now?” she asked, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

  “You said you love us,” AJ said.

  “I did not,” she denied, even though she wasn’t really sure what she’d said.

  “Yes you did,” Cal agreed with his brother. “I heard it, too.”

  “Well, I didn’t mean it.”

  Both men actually had the gall to laugh. The sound flowed over her and lodged in her heart.

  “Sure you did,” AJ said, moving closer, running his hand down her shoulder. She could feel the heat even though her robe.

  He walked around her, not stopping until he was pressed against her, his front to her back.

  Cal stepped closer to her front so they were toe to toe.

  “You said you love us,” Cal whispered.

  Then his mouth lowered to hers. His kiss was warm, his lips soft. Then he pulled back.

  AJ spoke from behind her.

  “We love you, too.”

  Then, Cal’s mouth crushed hers once again.

  Did he really just say they loved her? They? Both of them?

  While Cal was busy with her mouth, she felt hands come to her waist. She wasn’t sure whose they were at first, but when her belt was untied, she immediately recognized AJ’s roughened palms on her stomach.

  She inhaled a deep breath when his hand splayed over her torso. The dual assault was heavenly.

  “Wait a minute,” she said reluctantly pushing herself from between them. She missed their warmth immediately.

  “What…what…?”

  “What’s going to happen now?” Cal finished her sentence while moving closer again.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Well, before you got all girly and emotional on us, we were going to ask if you wanted to spend some extra time on the boat with us before we headed to the city,” AJ said.

  Could she do it? Could she spend more time with them on the boat, fall
more in love with them, yet still leave when they got to the city?

  “Oh no, I don’t think you understood,” Cal said and once again she found herself sandwiched between the two men. “We went you to spend some time cruising with us and then come home to live with us.”

  “Be our family,” AJ supplied.

  “But--but families are against the rules.”

  Both men laughed.

  “And when did you start living by the rules?”

  Cal did have a point. A very good point. Happiness was being handed to her on a platter. She’d be a fool not to take it.

  She leaned forward and crushed her mouth to Cal’s. She reached behind her and pulled AJ’s hands back around her waist.

  This was where she was meant to be.

  About the Author

  While she'd like to confess to settling before her computer to write everyday in her silk and lace while half-naked boy-toys bring her champagne and truffles, the truth is she writes in her jammies and has to get her own Diet Coke.

  Emma lives in Maryland with her physicist husband, though they haven't managed to quite yet work the travel bugs out of their systems.

  Also available by Emma Sinclair and Venus Press…

  One Hot Hour